From my Corner

For the brave boys of Amboli

2011-11-03T18:12:00.007+04:00

I realised that a lot of you may not know their story.
Here are a few links that may help – detailing the incident, an eye witness account and a glimpse of the public outrage thereafter.

http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2011/11/03/two-young-mens-deaths-stun-mumbai/
http://www.ndtv.com/article/cities/keenans-girlfriend-describes-how-he-was-killed-146488

FB group:

http://www.facebook.com/groups/131547346948361/

Times Now debate..
Part 1: http://www.timesnow.tv/videoshow/4387981.cms
Part 2: http://www.timesnow.tv/Debate-Justice-for-Keenan-and-Reuben---2/videoshow/4387982.cms

In fairy tales, when the knight in shining armour saves the damsel in distress, it’s the end of a drama filled story, the happy ending.

Moral science classes teach you to stand up against the wrongs you see before you, to ‘do the right thing’.

Our religious beliefs tell us that evil will never prosper.

But then life happens and you realise that the world we live in is a lot murkier than you ever thought possible.

I will not recount the story of the untimely deaths of Keenan Santos and Reuben Fernandes. Like me, you too would have probably read and re-read the articles and blogs and visited the various facebook pages and groups launched in anger and revolt against the events around these deaths.

We live in a country where people cross over to the other side at a faster rate than we care to be aware of.

When you’re sitting on the outside, it’s always easy to say ‘it was his time’ or ‘He died for a cause’. We’ve all heard these words and we’ve probably said them as well. And yes, it may all be true.

But there’s no way in hell that it means we do not have a moral responsibility in all of this. Or that justice does not need to be carried out.

These boys were sons, brothers, friends, colleagues. Who fought for what was right.

We are scared. We are angry. We are up in arms.

This could have been your son, your brother, your friend, your love, your colleague. If we don’t take a stand now...we leave the world a little less safer for our sons and daughters. We will continue to fear the nights and the bad guys, who have clout on their side. We will continue to take a beating and we will continue to walk in fear.

Eve teasing has graduated from playful name calling in colleges to murder. There is no pretty way to say it and it’s pointless to even try.

We have no choice but to accept what has happened. But we have the choice to fight it. Will you?

It must stop.

I want my children to know that the concept of justice is not dead. That criminals are held accountable for their crimes. That in our country, where the girl child is desperately fighting for her rights, she will have people who will fight for her honour without fear.

Would you be able to sit back and watch all of this if Keenan and Reuben had been your brothers?

It is a personal debate that each one of us must have – conscience vs reality.

The fear of standing up and fighting against this is very real and it grips us all. But if you choose not to react today, your younger brother or daughter will do it tomorrow. You may lose a life that you could have helped save...with your actions of today.

Would I have run out and yelled and screamed had I been there? I am haunted by that question and have thought of it often in the last few days.

I will never know.

But I can hope that if ever faced with that situation, I will.

Would I desperately try to hold back the ones I love from fighting against that gang, alongside Keenan and Reuben?

I will never know.

But if they did, I would probably watch and cry silent tears and pray that they came back to me safely.

You can never be fully prepared for something like this. But the will to fight...the will to stand up against this injustice...is strong within us all.

We need to find that voice. It is all we have.

In a country like ours, the media has a huge responsibility towards it’s public, especially in cases like this.

We look to you; the media, to bring injustices to light, to champion just causes and to not just look at TRP’s.

It’s not about who’s going to make a movie about this whole tragedy.

It’s not about which media station gets the most coverage and sole rights to the full story.

It’s not about putting on your best supportive face and doing an angry debate on national television and the minute the camera stop rolling, you’re back to being one of the many.

Do not play, do not mock, do not disgust.

We believe you. We watch you. We hang on your every word.

Because we choose to think of you as a person of substance. Because we want to believe that you will make a difference. Because we have faith that you can bridge that insane gap between the victim and the accused.

Can you live up to those expectations? Can you make that difference instead of asking grieving friends and family for movie rights?

Can you help bring the accused to justice? Can you hold the government accountable on behalf the public?

Can you help uphold the constitution? Can you be the real voice of the people?

Honour your craft. Step up to the plate and bat for the crowds who WANT to believe in you.

The media has taken a right beating in recent times. Show us that you’re here for the right reasons, that you do give a damn about the country whose politics and drama you feed off. Give us back our faith in the industry that is meant to use our right to the freedom of speech; for justice.

I know talk is cheap.

But while I am angered for the victims in cases like these and I want to do something about it back home, I cannot.

But it is my country. It is my tomorrow.

And I can raise my voice against this injustice. And I am.

Join me. For the sake of all our tomorrows.

Rest in peace Keenan and Reuben.

I wish I had a more fitting tribute for your bravery.... but then that’s what Heaven is for.

The thing about Twitter

2011-09-27T11:18:00.007+04:00

I've always believed that I should never sit down to write when my heart is sad. Yet I do it now, in the belief that my love for writing will somehow...sort things out.

Good grief no, I'm not going to pour out my sorrows onto this page, I'd need to pay you therapy fees then, yes?! (I just imagined people leaning forward with an "I'm listening." *grins* Frasier-much?) Things get better. Bad moments pass. I'm just in the middle of a passing baddie right now.

I've recently started using Twitter again. The bird never really 'settled' with me till a little while ago...I thought it to be a bit of a bother, especially when I was flooded with random tweets - hourly, nay, minute by minute updates, on peoples lives. Eessh. I don't want to know every detail of your day. Even if you are a sell-out star or author. If you do have that much to say, you turn to the other great gift of the www - the blog. Knock yourself out.

But Twitter grows on you. Especially if you're following the right people. Style, news, fashion, wit, humor, sports, movies - you can find something that's right up your alley. I enjoy the tweets of a few celebrities. Steve Martin, John Cleese and Ranvir Shorey are current favorites.

I have a lot to learn about a few interesting people I follow - Sidin Vaducut is a writer. For now unfortunately, that's all I know, but I plan on getting my hands on a book of his soon. Also he's an ex Gulfie. That's instant identification, right there!

Rofl Indian. That's his name, apparently. Check it out. For giggles and news and a few rofl moments.

Between Facebook, Twitter and blogging, Twitter is winning the race in terms of convenience. And of course, something to do when you're waiting alone for the elevator. And our fair friend Faebook, has a new format. Yes I hear the grunts and groans, but hey, you're still on it aren't you? If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

But blogging stays my favorite, comfort zone perhaps. You're welcome to follow, like, eat with your hands if you must. It's not so much social net-working...just perhaps creating your own little social dot of a planet. People can come by if they like, settle down, build house...but you don't care if you're the smallest planet, or if they name you or not, or if you're considered to be part of the galaxy of other, much bigger, more prominent dots. Pictures, thoughts, memories, opinions - it's all yours.

Such a nice feeling to have something you call your own.

Here's a shot from Thailand, earlier this year. We were at some ruins, surrounded by monuments in rock and stone. Some kid recreated one of the taller structures, with stones and pebbles. Very Zen-ish thoughts came to mind. No mountain is too big to be broken down into smaller pieces. Anything can be overcome.

And voila, the heart is lighter. And smiling.

Whaddya know.

Doing the Desi rounds

2011-09-17T13:00:00.006+04:00

If this had to be my 4th Grade English class, I would have been the recipient of a big, fat, bolded, highlighted and underlined 'F'. For absenteeism and irregularity. But then, my 4th Grade English teacher had a soft spot for me. So a 'C' perhaps.

As luck would have it, this isn't 4th Grade. Yet that gnawing feeling of guilt still hits me when I see that my last blog post was....*rechecks*......oh good Lord, 5 months ago. I think the gnaw just rapidly developed into a deep, gashing wound.

In recent news, India just finished off a series in England. (for the non sports fans, I speak cricket) We didn't win a single game. Not test, not 20-20, not one day. No thanks to unfortunate injuries, initial bad playing (of course I noticed, didn't we all?), bad decisions and the annoying rain game doctors - Duckworth & Lewis. In the last few one day games, we had commentators dissing our players like there was no tomorrow. Indian commentators, mind.

Rahul Dravid...was termed as 'Old India.' Lacking daring, youth and confidence. Let's all just take a moment to take that in. Right.

Rahul then went on to hit a few fours. The man has been playing for his country since 1996. We don't call him 'The Wall' for nothing. His USP has always been his smart game and mental approach. We called him Mr. Dependable. He's also human.

The listening public support the boys in blue now, just as they did when you were a part of the team. Perhaps that's something you ex-players need to think about. I don't care what you're paid to do. Do you hear the likes of Nasser Hussain saying something personally negative about the England players half as often? Not criticizing their shots or styles, but their personal attitudes?? Yes?

I actually heard Harsha Bhogle say to Sunil Gavaskar, "I know Rahul isn't one of your favorite players" and then go on to make some point or other.

Really? No, really?? And I just watch the random matches. What must regulars think of you?

Just a thought, but if anyone's going to beat our players up in terms of commentary, could it perhaps not be the India lot up there in the box?

Give it a read. http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/532509.html

And appreciate the man. Like we appreciated you when you played your last game.

I also watched Bodyguard. *grins*

I'm aware several critics panned it with horrendous reviews. Yet, it raked in the big bucks.

Yet, Salman's fan following grows. What did I think? To be honest, not much of the story-line or the special effects. Or Kareena being cast as a college student. Or the copious amounts of make up she had on. Or, or, or.

But if I were to stay on the honest boat - Salman was....well, Salman. You can't help but laugh at his ridiculous comic timing, or smile when you see the way he seems to thoroughly enjoy his dance sequences. You somehow can't take your eyes off the screen when he's on it. Raj Babbar and Asrani add to the positives, so does the little Harry Potter lookalike at the end, whose name I unfortunately can't find on Wikipedia. Tsk tsk.

A surprise was Karisma Kapoor's voice over for Chhaya. Nice.

Yes, it may be bordering on the lame and the fight scenes may seem to insult the audience intelligence levels - but it's a no brainer, a 'let's be amused' kinda flick.

Delhi Belly revolved to a great deal. around poop, farting and a nice controversial kiss - remember? Dude? Burkha? Yeah.

So come now, leave us not be so critical.

I'm suddenly aware that my post has turned out to be heavily desi.

Apologies if you don't instantly identify with it.

There's a famous saying in India... "kya karein, hum toh aise hi hain."

Which loosely translates to "What to do, we are like this only."

Till later!

At the heart of it all

2011-04-10T20:01:00.003+04:00

Our lives get so crazy busy sometimes, don't they?

There's hardly enough time to get through the day.. from rushed mornings, manic office hours, traffic, the home routine, sports, other commitments, this, that and the other. I often can't tell where my week ends and my weekend begins!

No, I'm not complaining, not at all. I'm grateful that I go to bed tired, but content.

Sometimes though, it's hard to make time, even for those we love. We try and try and sometimes, the effort ends up leaving you even more tired than before.

I felt guilty initially - was it horrid that I had to literally allot time to people who meant so much to me - to meet, to sms, to email? Shouldn't it come naturally? Not like, (for lack of a better word) a chore?

But the more I thought about it, the more I realised that it was ok. To me, at least.

It meant that I loved someone enough to stop my crazy roundabout called life for a few seconds and let that someone know I thought of them. And it worked in my favor too.

I may have just sent you a joke on e-mail.

Or you asked someone to give me a hug 'coz I wasn't there when you met them.

You had a dahi batata puri and thought of me.

I left you a smiley on your facebook wall.

You told someone I mattered to you. I found out, quite by mistake.

I heard a song that reminded me of you and I called you.

You click a picture of something in a supermarket - just coz it has my name on it. *grins*

You ask me to say a prayer for you.

I was praying for you even when you hadn't yet asked me.

You remember things I least expect you too and it makes me smile.

We make teams and I'm on yours. Coz that's just how it always is!

I don't see you, but I miss you.

We share a memory, across many miles. And it means just as much either way.

We worry about each other.

I remember that you're allergic to mushrooms.

We have a secret coffee spot. And it's special coz it's ours.

These are only a few...but if you give yourself a minute to think about it, the list simply refuses to end.

I guess we don't always realise how blessed we are... And if you don't like the word 'blessed', feel free to use fortunate, popular, lucky.

But I have news for you. It's still a blessing, damn straight.

When Dude and I got married, we did a lot of it on our own. We started smaller than small and footed our own bills. We gave up a few luxuries, but it didn't matter - we were together, we did the little things, we were happy.

We've mountain climbed over the last 2 and a half years and are finally on more level, higher ground. We have more than enough and are happy, as always.

Over the weekend, we went shopping. And Dude bought me the engagement ring we couldn't afford back then. He turned my heart to choux pastry when he said, "I know I couldn't give it to you then, but I want to do this now." Bless.

We followed that up with entering a sports shop looking for swimming goggles.

Uff, the romance. *grins* But I wouldn't have it any other way!

I hope you realise how much you're loved.

It's the nicest feeling when you don't see it...and then suddenly you do.

Till later.

True to the Blue...

2011-03-30T01:02:00.004+04:00

..is my current facebook status.

World Cup Cricket 2011 is on. For those few who aren't too familiar; 14 cricket playing nations participate in the hope of winning the coveted prize, name and fame - World Cup winners.

I've watched quite a few matches this year. Some on my own, some thanks to dude.

I've been watching the games since I was a kid - mum, dad and I would get together, finish all the chores, just in time to settle down to uninterrupted viewing of a 50 over game.

50 overs of positive thoughts, cheering, the occasional under the breath muttering of abuses, yelling and in my mums case, silent prayers.

*smiles* I'd bet my last dollar she still does it too.

Tomorrow's a big game - India vs. Pakistan in the World Cup semi finals.

Again, that's a BIG deal. No points for guessing how far back that rivalry goes.

Every time the two countries play together - it's explosive. The media goes absolutely nuts with the coverage - bribes and match fixing allegations, player backgrounds, scandals, rivalry - the works. It's almost as if the media can't milk the proverbial cow enough.

When I was younger, I was just as gung ho about it. India simply always had to win, win, win!!

A nation of a gazillion people support, whole-heartedly; this team of eleven on the field.

With this World Cup I realised that a lot of us are still like that when it comes to cricket. We Bleed Blue (India team colors). We pray. We support 'the boys' as if we've broken bread with each of them on several occasions. We want them to win. So, so badly.

It's nice to belong to a camp. To feel this crazy one-ness with a nation you belong to, but haven't grown up in. To want to paint three lines on each cheek - saffron, white and green.

To yell and chant and cheer for our boys in blue. To see all the crazy facebook updates, email forwards and sms messages - all supporting the game, the team, the hope of victory.

And like mom, to say a silent prayer.

(God may like cricket right, who knows?)

I'm not too fond of the anti-opposition jibes that are doing the rounds though. Maybe it's a girl thing. If there's one thing I've learnt from watching dude play basketball over the years...on court, it's a World War in the making. Off court- it's all chest bumping, hand shaking, fist thumping camaraderie.

Let's hope that's the way it is with tomorrows game too.

Oh and btw, dude's facebook status - I don't like cricket.

I love it.

Go India.

Till later.

A difference of opinion

2011-03-08T20:28:00.002+04:00

It's Womens Day today. Ash Wednesday tomorrow.

And I've been down with the worst flu for the last week.

How does it all piece together? Well, since I managed to catch this dreadful bug, I seem to spend the better part of the day coughing, gulping down medicine, drinking hot water or dozing.

Fun times. *pulls a face*

But I've also spent a lot of time listening. And that's my point.

So many people have so many different opinions about everything. No, it's not something new, but it's interesting to observe and you can get quite caught up in the thought processes that are thrown around. When all you seem to do is pour yourself another mug of hot tea and honey, you learn profound things about the world.

Now, I get why so many people just sit at roadside cafes and watch the world go by. There's so much to see, hear, be a part of, be amused at.

Womens Day. Smile with pride or frown with disdain?

There's the left side of the room who say WHY? Why do you need a specific day to be nice to women and tell them how great they are? Why don't you do that everyday? The rest of the year you treat them badly and then 'whammo' on the 8th of March, you shower them with flowers and praise and what not?

You have to admit, there's a point somewhere in all that.

Then the right side of the room makes some noise. Why not, they ask? Is it such a bad thing to take one day out of the year to honor womenfolk and salute them for all they do? We've all read the mails where women can take more pain, have more heart, be more loving and this and that and the next thing; why shouldn't they get a day that's just for them? Bring on the art exhibitions, the bouquets, the seminars.

It made me think for a bit...as to which camp I belonged to. I sat in the middle of the room on a chair with my knees to my chin, deep in thought. And I realised that that's exactly where I was. I believe that women should be treated with love, respect, honor, friendship. I believe that everyone should be treated that way. 24/7, 365 days a year. I believe that we should at least try to honor all that is good in us...men or women. Trying is good.

But hey, you ain't never gonna catch me saying no to a Womens Day hug, a few flowers at the office entrance or a special song dedication on the radio. We don't celebrate each other everyday...but on this one day....it's nice to see random women in the halls greet each other with a wish for the day that celebrates who they are. It was nice to hear my mums voice this morning; "Happy Womens Day Shan!' It's nice to feel special. So I'm all for it.

Another hot topic has been Ash Wednesday and what are you going to give up for the season of Lent? The room went quite mad on that one.

Again, the same comparisons. Don't give up chocolate, alcohol, meat etc, just for Lent and indulge for the rest of the year. Don't try to be a different person during this time, it's meant to change who you are for life and not for just a month. GOD IS WATCHING YOU!!

Goodness.

Again...it can't possibly be that bad to acknowledge that you want to make a sacrifice, no matter how small.... right? During this time, you may personally choose to give up something you enjoy...and in that silent way, you contribute. Surely, God would not object?

I don't fancy choosing camps on that either. It's all so personal isn't it, these choices we make?

And in this day and age, where we can share our opinions so freely and easily - we can influence so many. My vote goes to just observing first...sipping on the warm tea and paying close attention to everything...and then finally, sitting calmly on that cozy beanbag in your mind...you choose what you stand for. To each his own.

Gosh, who knew what the flu could do.

Till later.

And just like that...

2011-03-06T21:06:00.002+04:00

...a new year began.

Sometimes I haven't a clue where the days seem to rush off too. I hardly have time to finish off one to-do list and I'm already crossing the T's and dotting the I's on the next one! (You'd think I'd have learnt more from Pats by now, huh.)

It was a glorious end to 2010. New ventures, warm memories, so many of us together again. Looking back at the year that was; I am thankful. For the good, the bad, the lessons I've learnt.

I wasn't yet done with 2010, but it was done with me and had given me all it had to. I stood at the threshold of the new year and I'll admit - I was scared. Of the unknown, the future, the anxiety of possibilities...yes, I was excited...but sometimes the line between excitement and wariness seems to blur itself out in all the noise we make.

But 2011 has literally hugged me at the door and whisked me in for a cup of coffee and biscuits.

Blessings and friends and joy and good news - as far as the eye can see. And that feeling I recognize creeps up on me again...I am thankful.

It's not that sad or difficult times don't happen. They do.

People die. Friends leave town. Bad news rears its head ever so often. Job opportunities are lost, money doesn't seem to stay where you want it too, you hurt about something...the stuff that happens in all our lives.

But the amazing bit is that when you look at in retrospect a little later...you realize that it taught you something, it was for the best, you have a 'thank goodness that happened after all' moment. It isn't always easy to do...but there you go.

Come by to mine and I promise to share my high tea of 2011 with you. And remember to return the favor when I run out of bourbons and cream tarts.

Till later.

Little Lady

2010-12-05T22:43:00.007+04:00

We’ve had a great set of holidays in the past few weeks – it was almost like being in school again. J

I had the chance to meet a lovely young lady at a birthday barbeque last evening. She and I shared a common hobby, one which I find fewer and fewer kids these days seem to enjoy. She loves to read.

We talked about it for quite a while – her favorite author, where she finds her reading material, her passion for writing. I encouraged her to hold on to her dream and do what she can to make it happen. I sang praises of the world of blogging and how it would help hone her writing skills. From the corner of my eye, I watched her dad silently listen to what his little girl was telling me; about a dream he clearly encourages.

It was like looking into a mirror of my past. *smiles*

Writing was and is, my dream.

It’s where my rainbows dance in a riot of color when I rejoice, where a gentle wind rustles the leaves when I’m calm, where I am surrounded by the noisiest school band when I’m in turmoil, where feathers and sunshine, cupcakes and cartoons are my friends, when I’m happy. When I write , my mind is my universe…it’s where I’m me, sans everything the world has added on....it’s where I’m happiest.

My exclamations, smileys, semi colons and even that thing I do with the asterixs *points out* all find a happy home. *happily*

I've come to realise that some of the best kind of reading in the world is that which you do as a child…where bible stories about fish and bread leave you enthralled, rocking chairs are wishing chairs and 5 children and a dog can solve just about any crime. Where the lion, the witch and the wardrobe was all you knew of Narnia and you loved the BFG dearly. Where a whole new world was just a few pages away! Such bliss.

Reading favorites change with age. You meet the Potters and Eragons and spend some time on Stephen King and Dan Brown. You search and search for that one author who’s ‘really’ good and whose books you won’t want to waste a bookmark on..only because you just can't put them down. You go from chick-lit to Higgins Clark, Shantaram to Lord of the Rings, even with a little Gibran in the mix. You mix it all up – that’s what adults do.

Then you suddenly happen to spot a certain Mr. Pink Whistle on your niece’s bookshelf.

*grins* Now that’s the way to spend an evening.

Little lady, you took me back to that corner of my mind where there’s a little me sitting on the floor, surrounded by books and armed with a pack of bourbon biscuits. Thank you kindly!

This one’s for you.

You can't get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me. - C. S. Lewis

Left in awe...

2010-10-19T22:39:00.005+04:00

It's been a funny sort of week.

A good friend of a good friend passed away very suddenly. Though I didn't know him personally, I felt as though I did. It was hard to watch Amu go through these foreign emotions and feel his pain, but not be able to say anything to comfort him. It was a gut-wrenching awful feeling and even that doesn't quite say it. No words of wisdom, hugs, I love yous...can change anything.

All you can do is stand in silent support and hope that it helps...somehow.

In the days that followed, I learnt that three close friends were pregnant and two others had just delivered. I rejoiced and was thrilled and at the same time, a part of my heart was confused. Life, death - what gives? I think somewhere in my mind, I even felt a little guilty for being as happy as I was.

It's easy to write about death...easier so to write about new life. But to see it up close and personal, stare it in the face and then consider writing about it...just filled me with so much sadness, my heart was heavy. Amu's friend's passing put a lot of things in perspective for a lot of us....what's really important, what truly matters and how some people and things are much too important to be pushed aside, even for a minute.

We all go through the pressures - work, family, commitments, studies, relationships - the whole she-bang. Then this reality check comes along, kicks you in the butt and you sit down suddenly, wide-eyed at your own world.

I learnt a few things...so I'm passing it on..maybe it'll make you look at the world the way I suddenly did.

Life is too short for silly squabbles. Family, friends, work - anyone. Life is just too damn short.

Friends are important. They are the family you choose for yourself...let them know you love them...whenever you can.

Work is work. It belongs in the office only - safe and sound. Period.

Live a healthy life. I don't like to think about whether or not I'm scared of death, but I'm worried and scared for those I may leave behind. Morbid perhaps, but true all the same.

Be happy from your heart. Love your loved ones because of all they are to you. We have but this one life to live...must we not do justice?

Pray. For everything. God Listens.

It's been a funny week. I wished there was an easier way to deal with death and then God showed me life...thrice in the same day.

I had no option but to bow my head in awe...and trust that He knew what He was doing.

Gump-ish about chocolate

2010-10-06T21:48:00.003+04:00

Forrest Gump has to be one of my all time favorite flicks.

I loved Tom Hanks as the adorably loving, earnest, albeit slightly thick, Forrest. So many bits and pieces of the movie come to mind when you think of it, but my favorite was the dialogue about the chocolates.

'Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."

I love hazelnut flavored chocs. And coconut ones and praline ones as well.

I've been having a lovely assortment of all my favorites, for the past few days.

*smiles*

I've got a remedy for days when I get the dark, white, coffee, fruit-flavored, liqueur chocs (never got around to liking them) or worst still, the bitter sweet ones. (ugh, awful flavors, those)

I spend time with a friend who likes them instead.

Pats is my dark chocolate buddy.

Dude, my fruitcake.

Mom - coffee. Hands Down.

Chili - the sinful choc ones. You know, when they're gorgeous when you eat them and then they guilt trip you later? Yeah : )

Jay - my one and only liqueur guy. Boozard, that you are.

Pa - the peanut ones which I can never finish on my own.

Luckily, I have a lot more friends than chocolate flavors I dislike.

Hope you have lots of people to share the assortment of life with too.

Till later!

Bring on the music

2010-10-01T18:52:00.003+04:00

H'lo there!

I'm back, after what seems like forever. Audits are not fun. Enough said.

So much has happened...good, bad, in the middle stuff. Not to me, but to people I love dearly. Such is life though, isn't it? Things will get better, as they have a tendency have doing.

Till then, we hope that all that happens, is for the best. Hoping is one thing, but getting people to believe that, is a whole different ball game. Yes, I can feel you nodding as well!

Paro was pregnant. In the middle of my insane week, we celebrated her impending motherhood with the cutest baby shower and hey presto! Within 2 days, her little princess met the rest of the world. 'Raaga' translates from Hindi as 'a traditional melodic tune or arrangement that expresses religious feeling'. Isn't that the most precious name?!! It's sort of the equivalent of 'rhythm'.

I get to see the little jukebox tomorrow. *smiles*

Paro's on my mind now...and it gave me a happy feeling. I generally post when I'm in a pleasant mood, with maybe a few good thoughts to share.

As of now, it's just nice to have friends around you, who you've known forever.

With whom you just slip into a comfort zone..like your favorite pair of shoes...y'know?

Friends who come by for a coffee and a chat after work, even when they've been up till 3 in the morning. Also known as Pats!!

Welcome to our world Raaga. Life will be tons of fun times and not so fun times, but needless to say, like the rest of us, you too will find your own special music, which will play only for you, whenever you want it too.

And sometimes you find a few people who hear the same music you do.

Hold on to them. They are called friends.

Passing on the student ID

2010-08-28T17:51:00.004+04:00

Today I happened upon an idea. It involves a tiger, a cat, a Capp, a wall and an empty box. I'll get back to you when I'm done with it, but till then, you go ahead and let that imagination of yours go wild. *grins*

As I had my coffee this morning, I read a Calvin & Hobbes comic strip. Calvin wants contact lenses and is discussing the possibility of getting them with his ever exhausted mum.

She wearily explains to him that he doesn't need them; he's got perfect eyesight. He sighs an exasperated sigh and proceeds to enlighten her on how outrageously cool it would be to have one blood red lens and the other one colored like the eye of a tiger and how he'd be the envy of the neighborhood kids and this and that....the next panel is a very annoyed Calvin telling Hobbes how being older just makes people forget what's cool. Such pearls of wisdom in the daily funnies!

It got me thinking. Does that really happen? Do you just stop being cool? Do your notions change so much as you age? Does being a parent make you the 'I said no' person?

I look around at my friends...we haven't changed much since college...we still laugh aloud and do silly things when we're together. Some of them are getting ready for parenthood...and I always find myself thinking what cool parents they'll make and how their kids are going to so LOVE them for being the coolest parents on the block. I've got really good friends 5 years older and younger than me and we get along like a house on fire. 6 degrees and all that, I suppose.

I like to think that if we're sane and have time for ourselves...and let life take its course normally, without us pushing the boundaries too far...We age happily, enjoying every minute and barely even realising it.

Yesterday some of us got together at Jay's for Pictionary, over red wine (amongst other things!) and kebabs - it was all laughs and chit chat. The previous day it was a heavenly food fest at Chili's - the food, the company, the fun - it made for an awesome Thursday night. It's great to just be able to catch up. Yes, we're older now...but when we're together; we're the same people we were all those years ago.

No, I don't think things change too much as you get older. Yes, responsibilities kinda creep up on you and you suddenly see a lot of serious stuff that seemed to be hiding in the bushes up until now. But then that's part and parcel of growing up in this crazy world of ours. And though it's scary sometimes, in it's own weird way - it's fun too.

You're as old as you feel, which is actually quite awesome.

Like I said, you get to age gracefully.

That's like having your cake, eating it too and whipping out your adult ID and enjoying it all with a chilled glass of wine.

Me 'n my sprinkles

2010-08-11T22:07:00.003+04:00

Sometimes it's hard to pick just one thought that's floating around in my mind and write about it.

It's quite Harry Potter-ish isn't it? My very own pensieve of musings and memories. Yes, I hide my wand in my back pocket and I'm a Gryffindor, thank you very much!

When I was younger, I'd watch life happen around me and imagine myself floating on a cloud, just watching everything and everyone. It allowed me to time to observe and more importantly, choose how I wanted to react to stuff. I imagined that I could see how people felt and whether they were happy or not. Then I'd wish I had colorful Star Sprinkles in my bag ala Rainbow Brite, that would promptly make everyone happy and all would be right in the world.

If I was being honest, precious little has changed.

When life gives me the rare moments of quiet thought, I'm back on the cloud. I've come to learn with age that I always had some Sprinkles stashed away somewhere and though I couldn't make everyones worries go away, I could help a few. I learnt that I couldn't see how people felt, but I could try to be as nice as possible to them, never mind the circumstance. Chili calls that being a diplomat. She says tomato, I say tomato. *grin*

I've learnt that I can't always carefully plan my reactions. Sometimes they just take me by surprise. And that isn't such a bad thing after all.

There are so many people I want to watch from my cloud, so many people I want the best for. But since it's just this make-believe cloud (who knew, right?) I'll pray for you all instead.

And if there are any of you on clouds too - 'sup y'all!!

Say a prayer for me too.